bkk walkthrough

[SahinAga]

I just spend 1-2 weeks per year in BKK and for 3 years perhaps, so i can't consider myself a veteran.But here is the info i gathered during my trips:

First accomodation:

I find the area between Asok and Nana is the best for average joe.If you can pick some place in between, Soi Cowboy and NEP will be in walking distance (around 10 mins).Also accomodation is plenty and cheap.You can find a real good one if you are a high roller, or a budget hotel but neat and clean.For me safety, cleanliness and location are the most important.Pick a one closer to BTS and MRT stations.Use many websites for room reservations, if you stalk these sites for sometime, you can get flash deals or some other promos and can find really good deals.It is very possible to find a decent 4 star hotel around 50 USD per night for example.Like i said pick some place between Asok and Nana stations.It will save you time and money.Also many shopping malls like terminal 21, robinsons around.Siam paragorn is just a BTS ride away, also Emporium is not that far.You will be right at the heart of action.Also Asok area connects MRT with BTS which is good because you will need both.

Transport

Certain areas of BKK has traffic jam 24/7, sukhumvit is maybe the worst.Even at 1 am you can stuck at traffic.So invest some time in learning BKK's public transport system.It contains BTS and MRT.Both clean, safe, fast and cheap.Also covers many areas for mongering.Try to learn them asap.Taxi is like flipping a coin, i had some bad experiences in the past.Use it if you have to.From suvarrnabhumi to sukhumvit should cost something between 300-400 THB.Do not pay more than 400 THB under any condition including tolls and highway.Stay away from tuk tuks.Motobike taxi can save you if you are in a hurry, but use it with caution since its dangerous.

Language&Attitude&Safety

Well its your vacation and you may think that its nonsense doing homework trying to memorise thai dialogs, but it pays greatly.By just memorising 20 words you can change people s approach.Basic Thai will be a great ice breaker since many WG's are not that good in English and they won't likely talk to you about art&literature soon you will find it hard to speak after the usual whereyoufrom-howold-areyoumarried-whereyoustay-howlongyoustay period.Also people will know that you are familiar to Thailand and less likely to cheat you.It can also save your ass from some emergencies, you never know.

Attitude is another subject.Here even you are a filthy asshole you will get laid, but if you want more, some tips may help.Also i like to mix some freebies with p4p this may help in that department too.In general Thais do not like loud people.Try to be calm.Also Thais care about personal hygene and looks.I m not saying wear a tie under and sweat like a pig but wearing a nice shirt and some comfy shoes will be good.If you use a decent perfume it s like a kryptonite to Thai ladies.Thai guys like the most of the asia are macho and pay no attention to being romantic.I don't know how to say but let s say they are not very caring.But these ladies watch all the western movies and videos so they know.I am not saying act like a pussy, it will only make things worse, but small things like opening a bottle lid for her, or holding the door of the restaurant can make a big difference.

Wai is the Thai way of greeting.I still see some farang even the older ones wai bargirls, waiters etc.Some Thais may think it s cute to some degree, but it s better to not to do it, unless you know it s mechanism.Do not wai, some one younger than you, some one at your service, just say thank you, or say khab khun kab.

If you face some problem, do not shout, it won't help you for the most of the time.Just smile, be calm but firm about it.I advise do not involve in a fight with a Thai dude, because 100 other will join the fight against you.Involving fights abroad is always stupid anyway, but some people learn it the hard way.And imho if its not a really big deal, let it go.It s not worth to get mad for over 100 THB.Just let it go and say mai pen rai.

BKK for me is very safe considering the amount of alcohol, drugs, prostitution and transgenders in the scene.Find a hotel with a safety box.Read the comments about the hotel.Leave your valuables at the safety box.Try not to use your credit card, always use cash.You will be probably drunk at a go go bar and these are not the most honest establishments.You will be charged 150 thb each time you use the ATM.so try to take as much as you can get (20 k? 10 k?) and leave it at your safety box.watch out for your pockets, pickpocketing happens.Never involve with drugs and try to be in control of yourself even you drink.Almost in each case i see a farang in trouble, he is dead drunk.Be alert if ladyboys are around.If you sense the girl is high on something (ya ba etc.) just walk away.

Do not carry your passport with you, but you can carry a copy of it, at least 1-2 nescessary pages.It can save you.I never needed it, but you never know.

Ok now the fun part, GO GO Bars:

There are 3 main go go areas in BKK.Patpong, Soi Cowboy, and NEP:

Patpong:Can reach by taxi.Its basicly two parallel roads one is a night market, one is go go.Do not go to any place upstairs.Do not follow any touts.Kings establishments are safe.Stay in the ground level.
Soi Cowboy: its near Asok, city bank building.A small soi with many go gos.Some establishments are owned by some dude called Arab: Spice Girls, Deja Vu, Kiss, Midnite, rio and Sahara.In the forums i read somethings about customers being beaten up by bodyguards, or some scams with the bill, so they don't have good reputation.I won't say this bar is good or bad.You can basicly walk around take a look inside, if you like you can stay, if not can walk away.
NEP: It s near nana.Same things can be told about NEP, can walk around, look inside and leave if you dont like.

Here are some names:

soi cowboy patpong nana
after skool* pink panther soi 2 rainbow 1 g2
shebas glamour a gogo soi 2 pretty lady
shark bar * safari soi 1 lollipop
dollhouse* angelwitch*
cowboy 2 temptations
mandarin*
tilac*
long gun dc10
suzie wong * billboard
baccara* las vegas

I personally dont bother with patpong.In these places you can have your beer, watch the girls dancing.Some has stage shows.Bottle of heineken will cost between 100-160 thb.You can buy ping pong balls for 20 thb each and throw the girls as a tip.Major establisments are swarmed with korean and japanese brothers now.Lady drinks prices will change by the establisment.These places close by 2 am weekdays and 3 am weekends.You can negotiate with the girl and meet her afterwork to not to pay barfine.Girls will usually ask for ST, LT is getting rare.But it all depends on the popularity of the girl, high season/low season, near closing time etc.I don't wanna write about the prices of ST/LT since it varies a lot.

Will continue later...

[WSGreader]

Nice write up. I'm gonna go in NOV for my first time for about a week. I am doing my homework now. I'm committed to learning as much Thai as I can.
I'm 90% excited 10% nervous as this will probably be a solo mission for me.
Do you recommend making a copy of a few pages of the passport or a few copies of the first page of the passport?
Also, I'm gonna keep my passport and money in my safe but will my other stuff be safe in the hotel ipod/tablet,camera, etc..?
Looking forward to your next post.

[SahinAga]

%90 of the time i go alone too.I think its better.No worries.

Just take one copy of the page with nescessary info.No need to make multiple copies.

With go go bar girls, and outcalls from massage parlors you are in a safer condition.Also many hotels will copy the ID of the girls.Main problems will be freelancers.My strategy is sending the girl to the shower first, while she s at the bathroom, put my valuables into safebox.I also search for high grounds in the room like on top of the wardrobe.Thai girls are usually short.You can put tablet, laptop etc on top of wardrobe lets say,it so they will be out of sight.

[slicky]

Most the time the safe is big enough to put even your laptop in
Ask the hotel yer staying at
Dawin Hotel is a good option, very clean, big safe
Never go out on the street with more than you can afford to loose, do not flaunt your expensive items and stay sober as possible

[WSGreader]

thanks for the tip. I'm not a big drinker so staying sober should not be a problem. I wasn't sure if the hotel's room service could be trusted. I'll keep it out of sight though. I'll be at the Le Fenix.

[slicky]

tablet, camera and phone should make it in there

[titof117]

I'll be at the Le Fenix.

Good choice. Start to become dated (be careful with the bed wood corners which are a real pain when you hurt them !) but a nice roof bar some nights and - most important - just in front of Q Bar, well-stocked with very pretty girls.

[mythaitrip1]

can you suggest me the best way to carry money to Thailand..debit card?Traveler cheques?

[SahinAga]

can you suggest me the best way to carry money to Thailand..debit card?Traveler cheques?

I carry some amount of cash (USD) for emergencies enough to make me survive for a week and buy a plane ticket back, but i don't spend it.Just keep it for emergencies in my safe box.For other cases, i use my debit card.I try to get the max. withdrawal amount (10K-20K) to avoid 150 THB additional fee.(each time you do a transaction they charge you 150 thb extra.)Take as much as i need and leave the rest in safebox.So i don't have to use ATM too many times.

I never bother with traveler cheques, so i frankly have no idea.

Hope this helps, cheers.

[Jomxyz]

mythaitrip1

best to take a combination of moneys IE
credit card for emergencies,
majority in dollars cash as they are easy to change and not subject to a fee,
a debit card for when the cash runs out and finally
a few high value (200 dollars) travelers cheques for if you lose all your monies. Travelers cheques get replaced quickly and are easily changeable but are subject to a fee (38 bhat per cheque and also get a slight lower exchange rate than cash)

[babylon81]

I carry some amount of cash (USD) for emergencies enough to make me survive for a week and buy a plane ticket back, but i don't spend it.Just keep it for emergencies in my safe box.For other cases, i use my debit card.I try to get the max. withdrawal amount (10K-20K) to avoid 150 THB additional fee.(each time you do a transaction they charge you 150 thb extra.)Take as much as i need and leave the rest in safebox.So i don't have to use ATM too many times.

I never bother with traveler cheques, so i frankly have no idea.

Hope this helps, cheers.

SahinAga thanks for the good advices especially for the newbies who visit the Thailand for the first time.Its really usuful for the guys who will not get a brief summary about the Thailand nightlife and mongering for BKK especially.I mostly agree your thoughts and advices except about Wai greeting, and neediness of copy of the passport.

For me,even you dont know many thai words or phrase, using wai greeting and say khab khun kab or thank you may help you to look thai people with a positive manner. You can use wai greeting both for the people who are either older or younger than you if you know where to rejoin your hands(I mean in which level of your body)I also never need to use copy of my passport in anywhere in Thailand but it doesnt mean that I can never use it but after my first visit I never take out my passport from the hotel's safety box.

I also totally agree to SahinAga that to be calm person(not shouting),not agressive in anywhere especially with Thai's,take care of your Hygene and behaviours to the ladies(if you really kind to them you can gain much)

[SahinAga]

SahinAga thanks for the good advices especially for the newbies who visit the Thailand for the first time.Its really usuful for the guys who will not get a brief summary about the Thailand nightlife and mongering for BKK especially.I mostly agree your thoughts and advices except about Wai greeting, and neediness of copy of the passport.

For me,even you dont know many thai words or phrase, using wai greeting and say khab khun kab or thank you may help you to look thai people with a positive manner. You can use wai greeting both for the people who are either older or younger than you if you know where to rejoin your hands(I mean in which level of your body)I also never need to use copy of my passport in anywhere in Thailand but it doesnt mean that I can never use it but after my first visit I never take out my passport from the hotel's safety box.

I also totally agree to SahinAga that to be calm person(not shouting),not agressive in anywhere especially with Thai's,take care of your Hygene and behaviours to the ladies(if you really kind to them you can gain much)

I stand my ground:

"There are a number of rules surrounding the use of the wai. These include when to wai and the type of wai to use for various people. What many foreigners don’t seem to realize is that it is not necessary to wai to everyone. That’s right, there’s no need to wai the 7-11 clerk after paying for your bottle of water. Typically there’s no need to wai any service type individual and this includes waiters/waitresses, shop clerks and anyone else you pay to perform a service. If you feel that you MUST wai these people only do so if they wai you first and then make your wai very generic i.e. palms to the chest and no bowing of your head."

http://thailandmusings.thaivisa.com/...-wai-properly/

I think the term people you pay to perform a service includes bar girls too.No matter where you join your hands, it s not appropriate to wai people at your service.I asked some Thais about the farangs greeting anyone with wai.Some said thats cute, some said thats stupid, so its up to you.

Also about the passport, its an immigration law:

"Carrying Your Passport: It is required by Thai law that Thai citizens AND all visitors MUST carry proper identification at all times. This must be presented upon demand by a Police Officer or other legitimate Government Official"

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g2...al.Safety.html

I never needed to use my passport either and i m also too lazy to make a copy for the most of the time, but that does not mean that it s the best way.I think you will regret not having a one when you involved with an accident or the place you hang out being raided.Law says you have to carry an ID, there are reports that some people got into trouble for failing to show an ID, so how can telling people not carrying copy of a passport can be a good advice?

[jerboa]

I always thought you got a higher rate when using TC's, if you're staying say 30 days imagine how much ATM fees the robbing bank makes!
You as a farang can open a Thai bank account, worth considering if you Plan on returning.

Yes you need to carry your passport in Los at all times, but In reality I doubt many farangs do this, making a colour copy of your photo page and copy of issued visa would help if stopped by the cops, I have heard stories of farangs locked up until their ID can be verified.

Another bit of advice is if asked by a Thai if this is your first time here, Lie and say no I have been x amount time to your country, this may stop you getting ripped off, if a girl thinks you're a clueless newbie she will try to milk you dry with Lady drinks tips and then ask 5k LT then leave you at 0345am because her sister locked out of loom.

[babylon81]

I always thought you got a higher rate when using TC's, if you're staying say 30 days imagine how much ATM fees the robbing bank makes!
You as a farang can open a Thai bank account, worth considering if you Plan on returning.

Yes you need to carry your passport in Los at all times, but In reality I doubt many farangs do this, making a colour copy of your photo page and copy of issued visa would help if stopped by the cops, I have heard stories of farangs locked up until their ID can be verified.

Another bit of advice is if asked by a Thai if this is your first time here, Lie and say no I have been x amount time to your country, this may stop you getting ripped off, if a girl thinks you're a clueless newbie she will try to milk you dry with Lady drinks tips and then ask 5k LT then leave you at 0345am because her sister locked out of loom.

SahinAga first thanks for the detailed information about wai.Now its much clear whether you can wai,how,when,where and to whom actually.In my opinion sometimes using wai can give you some advantage to seen much more polite and also show respect to other people in their own way.But I totally agree that you shouldnt use it without knowing anything about it.
About passport, I didnt mean that not to keep the copy of the passport near you,but you dont really need to use actually.I just mean that if you not put yourself inside of crime in Thailand,no one need to ask your ID in there I beleive(Just try to explain that its enough safe country)

Good advise from Jerboa that you shouldnt say that you are first timer in there.I always use this after my first visit to SEA and everytime have some information so that I can solidify that I am not first timer in their eyes.So these can help you to not ripped off by girls,night markets,tuk tuk or taxi drivers and so on...

[jerboa]

That's why knowing a bit of Thai can help 1, to endear you to the locals, and not be taken for a newbie, just saying "mai ouw khap" will stop you getting pestered by street hustlers etc.

As for no ID if your unlucky to get caught in a disco raid by the BiB you might well be in the shit without a Passport and valid Visa.